Cheese Crisps

Beef Filling

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 ½ cups canned diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained — undrained
• ½ teaspoon garlic salt, plus more to taste (optional) — plus more to taste

Crisps

• 6 8-inch flour tortillas, 8-inch
• neutral oil, for frying — for frying
• 1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded — shredded

Toppings

• 2 cups lettuce, shredded — shredded
• 1 cup tomatoes, seeded and diced — seeded and diced
• ½ cup sour cream
• ¼ cup pickled jalapeños, sliced — sliced
• ¼ cup scallions, thinly sliced — thinly sliced

1. Prepare Cheese and Toppings: Shred the cheddar and set it aside. If using the optional toppings, shred the lettuce, seed and dice the tomatoes, and slice the jalapeños and scallions. Keep the cold toppings refrigerated until assembly.1½ cups sharp cheddar cheese; 2 cups lettuce; 1 cup tomatoes; ½ cup sour cream; ¼ cup pickled jalapeños; ¼ cup scallions
2. Cook Beef Filling: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it into small crumbles, until browned, no pink remains, and the beef reaches 160°F. Drain the excess fat. Stir in the diced tomatoes with green chiles and garlic salt. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the filling is thick and no watery liquid pools in the skillet. Taste and add more garlic salt as needed. Cover and keep warm off the heat.1 pound ground beef; 1½ cups diced tomatoes with green chiles; ½ teaspoon garlic salt
3. Fry Tortillas: Pour enough neutral oil into a second wide, heavy skillet to reach a depth of approximately ¼ inch. Heat the oil over medium heat to 350°F. Fry the tortillas one at a time for approximately 20–30 seconds per side, turning with tongs and gently pressing down any large bubbles. Remove each tortilla when it is lightly golden and crisp around the edges but still bends slightly in the center. Transfer to a paper towel-lined sheet pan or platter in a single layer. Allow the oil to return to 350°F before frying the next tortilla.6 flour tortillas; neutral oil
4. Assemble and Serve: Place each warm tortilla on a plate and divide the beef filling evenly among them. Sprinkle approximately ¼ cup cheddar over each portion while the filling is hot. Add any optional toppings and serve immediately.beef filling; fried tortillas; 1½ cups sharp cheddar cheese; optional toppings as desired